Robert James Eustace was born in the summer of 1887 in the Oxfordshire village of Shirburn. The oldest of three children, he was the only son to James and Elizabeth (or Eliza) Eustace. James was a shepherd, and by the time of the 1901 census, he had taken up work on a farm near Slough, Berkshire. The document found the family living at 4 Wellington Place, on Grove Road, to the north of the town.
Eliza died in the years after that census was taken, and by the time of the next one, recorded in 1911, James and Robert had moved to 2 Pioneer Place in nearby Cippenham. Robert was employed as a carman, but it is clear that he sought more and he took the risk of emigrating for a better life.
Robert – who now took to calling himself James – moved to Gull Lake, Saskatchwean, where he took up work as a farmer. It is unclear when he left Britain, but when war broke out, he was called upon to come back.
James enlisted in Moosejaw on the 30th November 1915. His service papers show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.64m) tall, and had dark brown hair, blue eyes and a medium complexion.
After initial training, Private Eustace’s unit – the 28th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry – left for Europe. Departing from Halifax on the 15th August 1916, James arrived in Liverpool nine days later. Further training took place, and he arrived in France on 5th December.
Private Eustace fought in some of the key battles of that part of the conflict, including at Ancre Heights, and Arras. But it was at Hill 60 that James came unstuck, and he was badly wounded in the buttock and leg.
Initially treated on site, Private Eustace was medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. Admitted to the Lord Derby War Hospital in Warrington, Cheshire, on 26th August 1917, his wounds required surgery. James was also recorded as having an abscess in the psoas muscle in his lower back. During the operation, this was drained and cleaned. His service papers included a diagram of the operation from his surgeon.
James remained in hospital for a month, and during that time, he developed toxaemia. The combination of his injury, the abscess and the blood poisoning would ultimately prove fatal: Private Eustace passed away on 28th September 1917. He was 30 years of age.
The body of Robert James Eustace was taken back south for burial. James, shill a shepherd, was now living at Dorney Court Farm, not far from Slough, and it was in the village’s burial ground that he laid his son to rest.
Ernest Bennett was born in Calne, Wiltshire, early in 1887, and was the only child to Henry and Elizabeth. Henry was a general labourer and carter for a local mill, but when he son completed his schooling, he took work as a mason’s labourer.
Alongside his paid work, Ernest also volunteered with the local militia, as a Private in the 4th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment. He also fell in love and, on the 6th December 1913, he married Emily Hitchens. The couple set up home in Trowbridge, and went on to have two children: Phyllis and Nelson.
When war broke out, Ernest’s time in the army proved invaluable. He was mobilised on the 1st September 1914, and assigned to the 3rd Battalion of his former regiment. Private Bennett’s medical report shows that he was 5ft 8.5ins (1.74m) tall and weighed 140lbs (63.5kg). He had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.
Details of Private Bennett’s time in the army are sparse, but it is clear that he was sent to France by the end of November. He wasn’t overseas for long, however, and was back in Britain by the first week of February 1915. The reason for Ernest’s return is unclear, but it is likely to have related to his health: on the 2nd September 1915, he was medically discharged from the army.
At this point, Ernest’s trail goes cold. He appeared to have gone back home as, on Christmas Day 1916, this is where he passed away. He was 29 years of age.
The body of Ernest Bennett was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery: the exact location has been lost to time, but he is commemorated with a CWGC headstone close to some other war graves.
Stephen Smith was born in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, in 1890. The fourth of eight children, he was the second of three sons to Thomas and Vashti Smith. Thomas was a hawker, and the family were living at 14 Islington Place when Stephen was born.
By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to 65 Shails Lane, slightly closer to Trowbridge town centre. Three of the family – Thomas, Vashti (who went by her middle name, Sarah), and their oldest child, Selina – were all employed in hawking. Stephen, just 12 years of age, was still at school, but his older brother, Alfred, was earning a little by collecting rags.
On 30th August 1908, Stephen married Beatrice Harding. They were both just 18 years of age at the time, and it seems to have been a love match: they went on to have three children, but their eldest, daughter Annie, was not born until 1911.
By the time of that year’s census, the young were renting a tenement at 5 Burbidge’s Yard. Just around the corner from Stephen’s Parents in Shails Lane, it was small courtyard filled with dyers, needleworkers, carpenters and hawkers.
Stephen also wanted to do his bit in the service of his King and, on the 14th June 1908, he enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment. His service papers show that he was 5ft 7.5ins (1.71m) tall, and weighed 155lbs (70.3kg). He was noted as having brown hair and brown eyes.
Over the next four years, Stephen remained on home soil. He proved his mettle, and was appointed to Lance Corporal on 21st June 1911, and Corporal less than a year later. In October 1912, he extended his service for another four years. By June 1913, Stephen had been promoted again, his exemplary service resulting in him being made Sergeant.
War broke out in the summer of 1914, and Sergeant Smith found that his rank meant that he wouldn’t be able to serve with his men. At his own request, he reverted to the rank of Private and, on 11th September, he transferred to the 1st Battalion and was sent to France.
Private Smith’s unit fought at the Battle of Messines, and he was injured there. A gunshot wound to his right foot meant a medical evacuation to Britain, and he was admitted to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester, Lancashire, for treatment.
Following his discharge, Stephen remained on home soil, but his health was becoming affected in unexpected ways. He had developed varicose veins in late childhood, and these developed to the point where he was not longer fit for military duty. He was discharged on 15th April 1916, and returned home to Trowbridge. The condition was declared not to be related to his service, so he did not receive any recompense for it.
By the spring of 1917, another issue had presented itself. Stephen was suffering from tuberculosis, and the prognosis was not good. “In my opinion [Private Smith] acquired the disease whilst in the service and the disease was aggravated in consequence of his military duties. He is suffering from the disease in rather an advanced stage and it does not appear to me probable that he will live for another year.” Signed Leonard Crossley MD, County Tuberculosis Officer. [Medical Report on Stephen Smith: 28th March 1917]
Ultimately, Dr Crossley’s prediction would prove correct:
The death occurred on Saturday at Lower Broad Street of Stephen Smith, aged 27, who served for some time in the Army and was discharged nearly two years ago on account of a wound in the leg. For some time past he had suffered from tuberculosis, but he was out of doors as recently as Friday. He leaves a widow and four young children.
[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 8th December 1917]
The body of Stephen Smith was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family were still living.
While Stephen’s father disappears into history, his mother, Vashti, lived on until 1934. She was laid to rest with her son, mother and son reunited after 17 years.
Stephen O’Leary was born in the autumn of 1898 in the Wiltshire village of Keevil. The second of four children, he was the eldest son to Edward and Mary O’Leary. Edward was a thatcher by trade, and the family lived on Institute Road (now Martins Road), to the south of the village.
Stephen was only 16 years of age when war broke out, but is seems that he was called upon to play his part early in 1917. He was attached to the 37th Battalion of the Training Reserve Battalion, and sent to Salisbury Plain for his instruction.
Tragically, it would seem that Private O’Leary’s time in the army was to be brief. While in camp he contracted meningitis, and was sent to the Isolation Hospital in Stratford-sub-Castle, to the north of Salisbury. He died from the condition on 21st June 1917: he was just 18 years of age.
The body of Stephen O’Leary was taken back to Keevil for burial. He was laid to rest in the village’s St Leonard’s Churchyard.
Arthur Frank Carter was born in the 10th July 1893 in Bratton, Wiltshire. The third of seven children, he was the oldest of four sons to Frank and Martha Carter. Frank was a farm labourer, and the family lived on Lower Street, to the north of the village centre.
When Arthur finished his schooling, he found work as a carter, probably unintentionally living up to his family’s name. When war broke out, however, he stepped up to play his part. Serving in the Wiltshire Regiment as a Private, he was attached to the 1st Battalion and, by the 19th January 1915, he found himself in France.
Full details of Private Carter’s service have been lost to time, but during his time overseas, he received a promotion to Lance Corporal. In June 1915 he was wounded, and was sent back to Britain for treatment. Admitted to hospital in London, Arthur’s injuries would prove to be too severe. He passed away on 12th June 1915, at the age of just 21 years old.
The body of Arthur Frank Carter was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in St James’ Churchyard, Bratton.
Albert Tom Merritt was born in the spring of 1890, the youngest of six children to John and Mary. John was a bricklayer from the village of Bratton in Wiltshire, and this is where the family were born and raised.
When he completed his schooling, Albert took up employment as a carpenter. His mother passed away in 1905, and on 15th September 1915, he married Elsie House. A labourer’s daughter from Aller Hilton, Dorset, the couple exchanged vows in her parish church, and went on to have three children: Frederick and Edward.
Albert was called up in October 1916, and was assigned to the 13th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. His service papers show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall and weighed 119lbs (54kg). He was noted as having poor hearing, but declared fit for service in the regiment’s Labour Corps.
Assigned to the 447th Agricultural Company, Private Merritt remained on home soil during the conflict. He survived the war, but contracted influenza in the autumn of 1918. Sent home to recuperate, he passed away on 1st December, at the age of 28 years old.
The body of Albert Tom Merritt was laid to rest in the graveyard of St James’ Church, in his home village of Bratton.
Tragically, Elsie was pregnant when her husband died. She gave birth to a third son, Leonard, in May 1919.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s records give Albert’s surname as Merrett. However, all other documents confirm the spelling as Merritt.
Geoffrey Hugh Willoughby St Quintin was born in Cromarty, Ross-shire, on 17th November 1899. The second of two children (although his older sister Doris had died two years before he was born), his parents were Geoffrey and Muriel St Quintin.
Geoffrey Sr was an estate manager and the 1901 census showed the family having eight live-in servants. Geoffrey Jr was then sent off to a private prep school in Wokingham, Berkshire.
The next census return, taken in 1911, found Geoffrey Sr was visiting his brother at Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire. Muriel, meanwhile, was staying with her cousin Eliza Willoughby, the wife of Baron Middleton. Between the two residences, there was a retinue of some 23 servants.
Geoffrey Sr died in 1913, and his son went on to attend Eton College. When war broke out he stepped up to serve his country, joining the Royal Fusiliers.
Ross-shire friends, especially in the Cromarty and Fortrose districts, will regret the death from heart failure, following pneumonia and influenza, of Geoffrey Hugh Willoughby St Quintin, son of the late Mr Geoffrey St Quintin, and of Mrs Geoffrey St Quintin, Flowerburn, Fortrose. He died in London just prior to an intended visit to Scampston, Yorks., to the home of his uncle, Mr WH St Quintin. Born at Cromarty House nineteen years ago, growing up into a young manhood of great strength and stature, he was well known and very popular in Ross-shire, where he passed the greater part of his young life. On leaving Eton College he was appointed to a cadetship in the Household Brigade, Officers’ Cadet Battalion, with the intention of joining the Guards, and was qualifying for his commission at Bushey, Herts., where he contracted his illness. He was a right gallant young gentleman, and everywhere a favourite…
A sad circumstance was the death on the day of the funeral of his devoted old nurse, Miss Johan Fraser, who was with him during his illness and contracted the influenza which carried her away.
[North Star and Farmer’s Chronicle: Saturday 21st December 1918]
Geoffrey Hugh Willoughby St Quintin was just 19 years of age when he passed away. His body was taken to Eton for burial, and he was laid to rest in the village’s St John’s Churchyard.
Alfred Story was born in the summer of 1876 in Poplar, Middlesex. The youngest of three children, his parents were Benjamin and Margaret. Benjamin was an engine fitter from North Shields, Tyne and Wear, but he and Margaret had moved to London by the time their eldest was born in 1863.
Margaret died in the 1880s, and, when Alfred left school, he found work as a draper’s assistant. He did not carry out this trade for long, however, and took up a career in the Royal Army Medical Corps. His First World War service papers suggest that he remained in the army for twelve years, gaining the Kedive’s Star for service in the Sudan in 1898, and the Queen’s Medal with five clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps for his time in South Africa.
By the time of the 1911 census Alfred was living at 1 Belle Vue, Eton, Berkshire, and that he was a house porter at Eton College. He was recorded as having married Alice in 1905 (although a later document suggests they did not exchange vows until 26th October 1916), and the couple were living there with their daughter, May, who was three years old. While no formal marriage certificate is available, it would seem that Alice was a widow when they got together: also living at 1 Belle Vue were her children, William Mallaband (who was 15) and Violet Mallaband (13).
The next record for Alfred is his service papers for the First World War. He enlisted on 26th February 1917, and was assigned back to his former regiment as a Private. His medical confirms that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m), and that he weighed 160lbs (72.6kg). He was recorded as having brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.
Private Storey carried out his duties on home soil, and was attached to 18th Company. He survived the conflict, and rose to the rank of Corporal, then Acting Sergeant. When he was stood down on 16th February 1919, we readily volunteered to extend his service for a further twelve months. On 20th November that year, he collapsed and died from a cerebral haemorrhage. He was 39 years of age.
The body of Alfred Storey was taken back to Berkshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St John’s Church, Eton. He was reunited with Alice when she died in 1956: husband and wife buried together after 37 years.
Leonard Stephen Lovelock was born early in 1887 in the Wiltshire village of Edington. The son of Ellen Lovelock, there is no confirmation of who his father was. Ellen married Stephen Drewett in 1889, and from this point on Leonard took that surname. Stephen was a sawyer, and he and Ellen set up home in Kington Langley, near Chippenham.
Leonard, however, was destined for a different upbringing. The 1891 census return found him living with Jesse and Ann Coldrake, who were recorded as his grandparents: also in the household were Betsy Drewett (Jesse’s mother-in-law) and Emily Drewett (his daughter-in-law). The relationships are a little confusing, but Leonard remained with Jesse and Ann for the1901 and 1911 census records.
When he completed his schooling, Leonard followed Jesse into farm labouring. The later census return recorded the family living in a three-roomed cottage on Tinhead, the road leading north from Edington village centre.
Farm work was only the first step for Leonard and, by the time war broke out, he was employed as an attendant at the Wiltshire County Asylum in Devizes. He enlisted on 12th January 1916, his medical records showing that he was a little under 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, and weighed 170lbs (77.1kg).
Private Drewett was initially assigned to the 12th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment and, on 14th June 1916, his unit crossed the channel for France. While there, he was transferred to the Labour Corps, and was attached to the 152nd Labour Company. In the summer of 1917, Leonard joined the 5th Army School of Cookery, but after just six weeks he was admitted to a camp hospital suffering from epileptic seizures.
Moved from the camp hospital to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux, by the end of the year, Private Drewett had been medically evacuated to Britain for treatment. He was sent to the General Military Hospital in Colchester, Essex, but his condition would ultimately prove fatal. Leonard died on 12th March 1918: he was 32 years of age.
The body of Leonard Stephen Lovelock Drewett was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of Ss Mary and Katherine and All Saints in his home village of Edington.
Private Leonard Drewett (from Edington Church memorial)
Alfred Frederick Lane was born on the 8th August 1899 in the Wiltshire village of Edington. The third of three children, his parents were Alfred and Ada Lane. Intriguingly, Alfred’s older brother, Percy, who was both the year before, is not recorded as living with his family, the 1901 and 1911 census returns show him as living with his maternal grandparents in Newbury, Berkshire.
Alfred Sr was an innkeeper, and the family lived in the White Horse Inn, one of four pubs in the village. His tenure as landlord did not seem to last for long, however, and, by the time of the 1911 census, he was recorded as being a dairy farmer. With two children to support, he and Ada had taken in a lodger, railway servant Ambrose Perrett.
When war came to Europe, Alfred Jr would eventually be called upon to serve his country. He did not, however, go willingly.
Alfred Frederick Lane (18, single), of White’s Farm Edington, had been refused exemption by the local tribunal, also by the War Agricultural Committee.
The father appeared, and said he was told to get a substitute, but this boy helped on his grandmother’s farm and she did not want a substitute, as she could hardly get about.
Captain Morley: Then I should think she does want one.
Mr Lane said his mother-in-law’s land was five miles away, near Heywood Church, and his son cycled there every morning after he had helped milk the cows at home. He had nine cows in milk and could not milk them all himself, as sometimes he did not get about very early, being “a bit bronchial.”
Captain Morley: How long have you been “touched in the wind?”
Mr Lane: A long time. Dr Willcox, of Warminster, only gave me six months to live – that was four years ago (laughter).
The Tribunal refused exemption and the Chairman said “You must tell your mother-in-law she must get a substitute.”
[Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 2nd March 1918]
Alfred Sr’s attempt to get his son off the hook seemed a desperate measure, and he was not afraid to lie to do so. His mother-in-law, Ada’s mother, had lived in Berkshire and had died seven years earlier. Alfred Sr’s own mother, Hannah, had indeed helped on a farm, but she had passed away in 1900. He may have been suffering from bronchitis, but that was not going to save his son from joining the army.
Private Lane joined the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, and was sent to Ireland for training.
On Sunday last week Mr [Alfred] Lane, of The Farm, Edington, received the sad news that his only son had been fatally shot in a military camp near Dublin. It is only about three months that he joined up, being attached to the Cycling Corps of the Wiltshire Yeomanry.
[Devizes and Wilts Advertiser: Thursday 18th July 1918]
Alfred’s time in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry had been cut tragically short. In Dublin, a trial was held for the man accused of his killing.
At a general court-martial held in Ship Street Barracks, Dublin, Private Walter H Lester, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, was charged with the manslaughter of Alfred Frederick Lane at Kilbride Camp, Co. Wicklow, on the 6th July. There was a second charge under the Army Act of having negligently fired a military rifle which fatally wounded Lane.
Mr Smylie, defending, submitted that a charge of manslaughter was not one for trial before a court-martial, and that there was no additional offence disclosed in the second charge.
The Judge-Advocate said that in his opinion the particulars set out in the second charge were the same as those in the first charge. It would only be necessary for the Court to find on one charge, and if they found accused guilty on the second charge he would advise the Court to refer the question of the validity of that charge to the convening officer.
This was agreed to, and evidence was then taken.
Lance-Corporal McCullagh stated that he was in a bell tent on the morning of July 6 with seven others, including the accused and the deceased. The deceased and Private Seansbury were wrestling on the floor. Witness heard an explosion, and they all rushed out, except deceased, who was lying on the floor. His face was covered with blood.
Private Haire said the accused was standing near the two men, who were wrestling. He had a rifle in his hand. He put his hand into his trouser pocket, and took a “round,” which he placed in the rifle, and pointed at the two boys, who were wrestling, and then pulled the trigger. When they heard the explosion they ran out.
Private Bannerin said he could not explain where the accused got the “round,” which was in the rifle.
The accused stated that he put what he took to be a “dud” cartridge in the rifle, which he raised to his shoulder to try. He did not believe it would go off.
His counsel also pleaded that the affair was purely accidental.
Accused was found not guilty on both of the counts.
[Belfast Telegraph: Friday 16th August 1918]
Alfred Frederick Lane was just 18 years of age when he died. His body was brought back to Wiltshire for burial, and he was laid to rest in the graveyard of Ss. Mary and Katherine and All Saints’ Church, not far from where his family still lived.
Private Alfred Lane (from ancestry.co.uk)
The loss of their son, particularly after their personal plea for him to be excused service, dealt Alfred and Ada a savage blow. Alfred Sr died a year after his son, at the age of just 56 years old.
Ada continued with the running of the farm, with her daughter Elsie and son-in-law William, to help. Ada passed away in 1924: she was 52 years of age.
Death and Service 